The Best Private Schools in Wells, Michigan
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Wells. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Sacred Heart Academy
Catholic Diocese of Saginaw
Sacred Heart Academy is a highly-regarded Catholic private school serving the Wells area and surrounding communities. Established in 1979, the school offers a comprehensive K-8 education with strong emphasis on faith formation, academic excellence, and character development. The school features small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and a well-rounded curriculum that includes advanced mathematics, science programs, and extensive fine arts opportunities. Facilities include modern classrooms, a dedicated STEM lab, and athletic facilities. The school is known for its strong community involvement and high parent satisfaction ratings.
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Midland Christian School
Independent Christian School
Midland Christian School is a well-established private Christian school serving students from Wells and the broader Mid-Michigan region. Founded in 1986, the school provides comprehensive education from preschool through 12th grade with a strong college preparatory focus. The curriculum integrates biblical worldview with rigorous academics, including advanced placement courses, comprehensive STEM programs, and competitive athletics. The campus features modern facilities, science laboratories, technology integration, and extensive athletic complexes. The school maintains high academic standards with a 100% college acceptance rate and is recognized for its strong community values and dedicated faculty.
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Trinity Lutheran School
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Trinity Lutheran School has been serving families in the Wells area and Midland County since 1972, offering a classical Christian education from preschool through 8th grade. The school combines rigorous academic standards with strong faith-based values, featuring a comprehensive curriculum that includes advanced mathematics, language arts, science, and extensive music and arts programs. The school is known for its highly qualified teachers, small class sizes, and strong emphasis on character development. Facilities include modern classrooms, dedicated science labs, music rooms, and gymnasium. The school maintains excellent parent satisfaction ratings and strong academic outcomes for graduates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Wells, Michigan
What are the primary private school options available for families living in or near Wells, Michigan?
Families in the Wells area have a few primary private school options, all with a religious affiliation. The most local is Sacred Heart Academy, a Catholic K-12 school in nearby Mt. Pleasant. For Protestant Christian education, Midland Christian School (K-12) in Midland and Trinity Lutheran School (preschool-8) in nearby Bay City are common choices. Given Wells' rural location in Gladwin County, it's important to note that all these options require a commute of 20-45 minutes. There are no private schools physically located within the village of Wells itself, so transportation planning is a key consideration for parents.
How does tuition at private schools near Wells, MI, compare to state averages, and what financial aid options exist?
Tuition for the private schools serving Wells families is generally below the state average for Michigan private schools. For the 2024-2025 school year, elementary tuition at these schools typically ranges from $4,500 to $7,000 annually, with high school levels reaching up to approximately $9,000. All the mentioned schools offer need-based financial aid, and Sacred Heart Academy actively participates in the Michigan Tuition Grant Program for qualifying families. Additionally, Michigan's Education Savings Plan (MESP) can be used for K-12 private school expenses, providing a tax-advantaged way for families to save.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools near Wells, Michigan, offer that address both rural values and college preparation?
Schools like Sacred Heart Academy and Midland Christian School balance strong college-prep curricula with programs that resonate in a rural community like Wells. Sacred Heart offers agriscience and environmental science programs that connect with local interests, while Midland Christian has robust STEM initiatives and partnerships with nearby Dow-related industries. Trinity Lutheran emphasizes hands-on learning and community service. Extracurricularly, these schools often provide smaller, more inclusive athletic and arts programs where participation rates are high, a contrast to larger public schools where making a team can be more competitive.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools serving the Wells, MI, community?
The enrollment process for schools like Sacred Heart, Midland Christian, and Trinity Lutheran typically begins in January or February for the following fall. Priority is often given to siblings of current students and members of the supporting church parishes. The process usually involves an application, submission of past academic records, a family interview, and for some grades, a student assessment. Given the limited seats, especially in lower grades, it is highly recommended to initiate inquiries early in the calendar year. Many schools host open houses in the fall and winter, which are essential for families in Wells to attend due to the commute involved.
For a family in Wells, how do the class sizes and community environment of local private schools compare to the public schools in Gladwin County?
The defining difference is scale and community focus. Public schools in Gladwin County, such as Gladwin Middle/High School, which Wells students attend, have larger class sizes and a broader student population. The private options offer significantly smaller class sizes, often 15-20 students, allowing for more individualized attention. The community environment is intentionally close-knit and values-based, rooted in specific religious traditions. This can provide a consistent moral framework that some families seek. However, the public schools offer a wider variety of advanced placement courses, vocational tech programs through the Clare-Gladwin RESD, and a more extensive range of sports and extracurricular activities due to their larger size and public funding.
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